DLD‰‰†‰KDLD‰‰†‰DLD‰‰†‰MDLD‰‰†‰C Now,Madonna pens kidstuff! Single and ready The world’s The pop priestess has turned ues at the same time. literary lioness. Madonna has The English Roses will be THE TIMES OF INDIA to mingle: Mariah a stage for made her debut in the world the first in a series of five kid- Tuesday, of fiction with a childre- friendly titles. Says June 3, 2003 looks for Mr Right Pooja Batra! n’s book titled The En- Nicholas Callaway, glish Roses. editor and publi- Page 5 Page 10 ‘‘The book is expect- sher, ‘‘It’s hardly ed to hit bookstores in news that more than 100 countr- Madonna kno- ies, in 42 different lan- ws how to co- guages, on September mmunicate.’’ 15,’’ says her publisher. Now, on The launch is being billed whether Ma- as the largest ever ‘‘simul- donna knows taneous multi-language how to act. release.’’ Presumably After all, last meaning that not heard, the even a Harry Potter lady’s film book has been tr- career had anslated into as been Swept many tong- Away! OF INDIA MANOJ KESHARWANI Fancy figures rule the road! Will the crown ARUN KUMAR DAS ommendation to this ef- Times News Network fect from a well-known person. Moreover, this here are numbers, and there are new series will only come to town? numbers. Some numbers, how- span 136 numbers and VINOD NAIR as a group. We have visited the Tever, are more equal than oth- cover sought-after vehicle- Times News Network Panama president’s coffee ers. Well, with ‘special’ vehicle-regist- registration numbers.’’ plantation and a place called ration numbers increasingly catchi- As regards the specifics everish excitement. Such Hidden Valley,apart from par- ng the fancy of the Capital’s of the numbers game in Fis the state of Nikita Ana- ticipating in a fashion show fe- citizens, the Delhi trans- its new avatar, Maken nd’s mind even as the clock ti- aturing nine of Panama’s best port department plans to has the details: ‘‘The cat- cks away at the Miss Universe designers,’’ she informs. introduce an ‘F’ series egorisation applicable to Contest and the grand finale Rehearsals, of course, have for cars. ‘F’, by the way, vehicles covered by the zeroes in on a winner tomor- been part of the picture too. stands for fancy! normal series will not row morning. But confidence ‘‘Rehearsals have gone on fr- ‘‘We have decided to hold for these fancy num- could well be her middle na- om 10 am to 5 pm before we got start the ‘F’ series after bers. For instance, in the current me, and this Delhi girl exudes an hour to ourselves in our taking into account the context, while ‘C’ stands for cars; ‘S’ for a self-belief to do India proud. rooms. Then, it was off to demand for fancy numbers. Delhi NEELABH scooters; and ‘G’ for goods vehicles, the ‘‘I am all set to take on the cocktails and dinner at vario- will become the first city in the new ‘F’ series will do away with universe,’’ says a voice from us places. Yes, we did get to hit country to have a separate se- NUMBERS GAME ‘C’, ‘S’ and ‘F’ and have num- the far shores of Panama, on the sack, but the day began re- ries of fancy numbers for vehi- bers such as DL-2FA-007 or DL- the eve of the contest, ‘‘Havi- ally early again the next mor- cles,’’ informs Delhi transport The transport department 1FA-1111.’’ ng come so far, I am determi- ning!’’ Her day may have been minister Ajay Maken. will introduce a series of While it is a well-known fact ned to cross the final hurdle. as tiring as tiring can be, but To be introduced by the Del- fancy numbers for vehicles that people from all walks of li- I was confident when I left Nikita certainly hasn’t lost hi transport department in fe —be they politicians, burea- for Panama and this is the her sense of humour. July, this new series will be one-of-a-kind coun- ucrats, lawyers, traders or artistes — seek ‘VIP’ way things continue to be.’’ Or the spirit of camarader- trywide. For the record, while fancy registration numbers, such a situation creates administra- The da- ie which numbers will be allocated free of charge to a tive problems. So, for the Delhi transport depart- ys leading UNIVERSAL FLAVOUR is second privileged few in the Capital, the normal prac- ment, the ‘F’ series is an innovative way of bring- up to the nature to tice across India is to charge additional money ing the numbers game to a screeching halt. Still, final rounds of the contest to- her.Having made friends with for these numbers. Elaborates a senior official of allotting fancy could require more jugglery than morrow morning have made contestants from across the the State Transport Authority, ‘‘This is a free just one-two-ka-four! for an eventful stay for Nikita globe, Nikita has played her service, with the only requirement being a rec- [email protected] in Panama. ‘‘I have enjoyed role as an ambassador of the each and every minute of my country.‘‘While I share my ro- stay here. Panama is a beauti- om with Miss Trinidad and ful country.While I have thor- Tobago, all the girls here are In search of the gulmohar... oughly enjoyed the sights extremely nice and supporti- here, I have been kept busy by ve of each other. At the same APARNA GUPTA all the gulmohars gone? ‘‘The wood of the gulm- various events related to the time, there is healthy competi- Times News Network ohar tree is brittle and unable to withstand har- pageant.’’ tion between us.’’ sh weather conditions such as storms or even st- While Nikita’s day starts Ah, competition... the hour laming reds, blushing pinks, vibrant orang- rong gusts of winds,’’ says MM Bhatnagar, dep- with an early ‘wake up Miss of reckoning is near. To be or Fes. Few sights can match the kaleidoscopic uty director (horticulture). Adds Keval Ram, India’ call in her room at the not to be — that is the questi- exuberance of the gulmohar in full bloom. Unfo- ‘‘The weather apart, gulmohar trees are vulnera- El Panama hotel where the co- on. ‘‘I will do my best,’’ she sa- rtunately,the gulmohar has been ble to fungal attacks.’’ ntestants are staying, a hectic ys emphatically. This bubbly reduced to a sight for sore eyes. MISSING LIST Still, official norms stipulate schedule follows. ‘‘Right from beauty has left space in her Today,just a han- that, for each tr- the day when we arrived and bag to bring the crown back. dful of trees re- ee felled by a sto- posed for photo shoots, we ha- An entire nation has a prayer main to remind rm, 10 saplings ve been on the move, travelli- on its lips for Nikita Anand. Delhi of the flo- of either the sa- ng to various sites to be filmed [email protected] wer known as me or another the gulmohar. species be plant- SPIRITED SUPPORT: Even as the Miss Universe pageant in ‘‘With its four ed. ‘‘Very often, Panama reaches its climax tomorrow morning, Delhi Times orange petals the horticulture wishes Nikita Anand, dressed in a Sanjay Malhotra creation, and a yellow one department repl- all the best for the final of the contest (To send this streaked with aces gulmohar photograph to a friend, log on to www.timescity.com/delhi/) red, the gulmoh- trees with sturd- ar is an artist’s ier indigenous delight. The gul- varieties such as mohar is synon- Terminalia bele- ymous with su- rica, Terminalia Jaddu starts a new innings mmer.Moreover, arjun and Cassia Are you ready for comedy? its sindoori hue The gulmohar is disappearing from Delhi’s scenery fistula,’’ informs DIVYA VASISHT and Khel — on the verge of completion, NIKITA DOVAL several strains in the movie and each is symbolic of Bhatnagar. Times News Network the additional tag of ‘actor’ rests easy on Times News Network one of them contributes to the hu- the Indian bride,’’ says artist Bulbul Sharma. Sad as it sounds, time is running out for the his shoulders. mour in some way.’’ Keval Ram, supervisor at the Nizamuddin Nu- gulmohar. Sarkari spadework needs to turn over he long wait is over. Ajay Jadeja ‘‘Acting is fine, but cricket is my life,’’ f laughter is the best medicine, Bol- This brings us to Hungama, a film rsery, has noticed the gulmohar’s diminishing a new leaf. Otherwise, the flaming reds, the blus- Ttakes a deep breath and heaves a si- he quickly clarifies, ‘‘I am delighted to be Ilywood is prescribing huge doses of directed by Priyadarshan, who hopes numbers through the decades: ‘‘About 20 years b- hing pinks and the vibrant oranges will be releg- gh of relief. With a division bench of the able to play again. I never realised how it! After all, comedy seems to be the fl- to repeat the success of Hera Pheri af- ack, we had around 30 gulmohar trees at the nu- ated to the sepia-toned images of memory lane. Delhi High Court division passing an ex- much I loved cricket till I was kept away avour of this reel season with Nayee ter the relative failure of Yeh Tera Gh- rsery; today, there are just two.” So, where have [email protected] parte interim order stating that he can from the game.